How to Study William J. Rapaport Department of Computer Science & Engineering, Department of Philosophy, Department of Linguistics, and Center for Cognitive Science

Outline 1.Manage your time 2.Take notes in class & re-write them at home 3.Study hard subjects first, in a quiet place 4.Read actively & slowly, before & after class 5.Do your homework & assignments (≠ studying) 6.Study for exams 7.Take exams 8.Do research & write articles

Introduction Everyone has a different style of learning –“What are the answers?” (“You tell me”) –“Let’s discuss this / find out together” (“We tell each other”) –“Here’s why I think this is the answer” (“I’ll convince you”) So, everyone has a different style of studying –So, my suggestions might not work for you –But they worked for me So, try them!

Single, massive study session is less efficient than multiple, short study sessions

1. Manage Your Time Grad school is a full-time job, so… 1.Education > {job for fun, extra-curricular activity} 2.If you must work, don’t be a full-time student If education is your full-time job, then spend 40 hrs/wk –1 academic credit ≈ 1 hour –So, 12 cr ≈ 12 hrs in class; so: 40–12=28 home studying –28/(5 study days/wk) ≈ 5.5 hrs/day ≈ 1.4 hrs/course (4 courses) Or: 9 cr + 20 hrs assistantship = 20 hrs/wk for courses –So, 9 cr ≈ 9 hrs in class; so: 20–9=11 home studying –11/5 ≈ 2.2 hrs/day ≈ 0.7 hrs/course (3 courses)

2. Take Notes in Class & Re-write at Home Take complete notes in class –write as much as possible forces you to pay attention keeps you awake (!) less to remember –use abbreviations –neatness doesn’t count –ask questions & make comments put in notes, even if not uttered in class Understand at home –copy class notes at home don’t just re-read in-class notes(passive) reorganize notes(active) Don’t take notes on computer –noisy; Internet is too tempting; inconsistent with re-writing Don’t rely on instructor’s notes or copies of slides –re-write them, too!

3. Study Hard Subjects First… Study harder subjects while you’re alert. … & Study in a Quiet Place Recent finding: –People cannot multi-task successfully!

4. Read Actively & Slowly, before & after Class Don’t read passively –think about what you’re reading Slow-reading algorithm –after each sentence, ask “why?” –(next slide)

Slow-Reading Algorithm WHILE there is a next sentence to read, DO: BEGIN (* while *) Read it, SLOWLY; IF you do not understand it, THEN BEGIN (* if *) re-read the previous material, SLOWLY; re-read the incomprehensible sentence, SLOWLY; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask a fellow student to explain it; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask your Teaching Assistant (TA) to explain it; IF you still don't understand it, THEN ask your professor to explain it; IF you are in an upper-level course & you still don't understand it, THEN write a paper about it (!) END (* if *) END; (* while *) Since there is no next sentence (because the Boolean test in the WHILE is false), you've understood the text!

4. Read Actively & Slowly, before & after Class (cont’d.) Highlight text in margin –don’t paint entire page in day-glow yellow highlighter! –1st pass:square bracket in margin ] –2nd pass:double bracket more important material ] ] –3rd pass:underline really important material ] ] Write notes in margin –personalize your (own!) text –index your notes Keep a reading journal –copy important passages (verbatim, with full citation) –write your comments about it Read twice: both before & after class

5. Do Your Homework Do HW on time Do it on scrap paper –then copy neatly Write both problem & solution

6. Study for Exams Manage your time –start 1 week before exam –spend 1 hr/day studying study entire night before exam –final exams: do nothing else but study! for E exams over D days, –spend D/E days studying for each exam Make a study outline & study from that –from re-copied class notes + highlighted text + reading journal –try to fit on 1-2 pages, front only (write small) Write sample essays or do sample problems –work in a study group Make “flash cards” (actually: notebook paper, 2 cols): –left column:question / theorem / statement of thm –right column:answer / statement / proof –cover R column with blank page; write answers; check; repeat

7. Take Exams Read entire exam first. For essay questions: –do “mind dump” –develop outline –write (or “copy from memory”) Do easy problems first Review answers

8. Do Research & Write Essays Choose topics carefully –not too broad, not too narrow Do literature review & research –read slowly & actively –keep reading journal Make an outline (from reading-journal notes) –top-down design & stepwise refinement Write, using outline as guide –keep audience in mind Edit –read your own work slowly & actively –have fellow student/colleague read critically Manage your time –start early, do a little each day, finish early

Do I Really Have to Do All This? Yes! But not necessarily all at once